Best movies of the 1950s

The 1950s: all 472 films TOPICAL scores from these years, best first. The top three are 12 Angry Men (1957), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), All About Eve (1950). The last column is each film's rank among all 6,624 films.

Rank	Film	Year	Score	All-time rank
1	12 Angry Men	1957	96.1	19
2	The Bridge on the River Kwai	1957	95.2	28
3	All About Eve	1950	95.0	30
4	On the Waterfront	1954	94.9	31
5	Sunset Boulevard	1950	94.3	37
6	Rear Window	1954	93.9	42
7	Some Like It Hot	1959	93.8	43
8	A Streetcar Named Desire	1951	93.2	51
9	Ben-Hur	1959	92.2	65
10	North by Northwest	1959	92.1	67
11	Rashomon	1950	90.1	100
12	High Noon	1952	89.9	103
13	Roman Holiday	1953	89.4	112
14	Seven Samurai	1954	89.4	113
15	Singin' in the Rain	1952	88.8	125
16	Vertigo	1958	88.0	141
17	From Here to Eternity	1953	86.8	168
18	Wild Strawberries	1957	86.3	180
19	Anatomy of a Murder	1959	85.1	209
20	Paths of Glory	1957	84.8	216
21	The African Queen	1951	84.5	225
22	Sabrina	1954	83.6	248
23	The Night of the Hunter	1955	83.5	250
24	Witness for the Prosecution	1957	83.1	261
25	The Ten Commandments	1956	83.0	265
26	The Quiet Man	1952	82.8	272
27	Rio Bravo	1959	82.4	283
28	Cinderella	1950	82.3	285
29	Giant	1956	82.1	290
30	La Strada	1954	82.0	294
31	Marty	1955	81.2	317
32	A Place in the Sun	1951	80.6	337
33	East of Eden	1955	80.2	350
34	Nights of Cabiria	1957	79.9	360
35	Cat on a Hot Tin Roof	1958	79.6	370
36	The Wages of Fear	1953	79.2	382
37	The 400 Blows	1959	78.9	392
38	Pather Panchali	1955	78.6	402
39	The Searchers	1956	78.3	412
40	Rebel Without a Cause	1955	78.1	419
41	Tokyo Story	1953	77.9	427
42	Ikiru	1952	76.7	469
43	Touch of Evil	1958	75.8	502
44	Umberto D.	1952	75.6	510
45	The Cranes Are Flying	1957	75.5	513
46	Shane	1953	75.3	523
47	The Hidden Fortress	1958	74.4	556
48	Ugetsu	1953	73.3	601
49	Bad Day at Black Rock	1955	73.2	604
50	An American in Paris	1951	73.1	609
51	The Seventh Seal	1957	73.1	610
52	Forbidden Games	1952	72.9	619
53	All the King's Men	1950	72.6	629
54	Invasion of the Body Snatchers	1956	71.9	659
55	Strangers on a Train	1951	71.8	665
56	The Asphalt Jungle	1950	71.2	691
57	Sweet Smell of Success	1957	70.9	704
58	Ace in the Hole	1951	70.8	706
59	Born Yesterday	1950	70.7	714
60	The Bad and the Beautiful	1952	70.6	718
61	Limelight	1952	70.3	729
62	Throne of Blood	1957	68.0	835
63	The Defiant Ones	1958	67.8	844
64	To Catch a Thief	1955	67.7	848
65	The King and I	1956	67.7	850
66	A Star Is Born	1954	67.4	864
67	Gigi	1958	66.8	893
68	Diabolique	1954	66.7	899
69	Aparajito	1956	66.2	924
70	Julius Caesar	1953	65.1	980
71	Hiroshima Mon Amour	1959	64.8	995
72	I Vitelloni	1953	64.5	1,008
73	The Big Country	1958	64.3	1,020
74	Sleeping Beauty	1959	64.1	1,027
75	Black Orpheus	1959	63.7	1,048
76	The Day the Earth Stood Still	1951	63.6	1,055
77	The Lavender Hill Mob	1951	63.5	1,061
78	Mister Roberts	1955	63.1	1,084
79	Lady and the Tramp	1955	63.0	1,085
80	Mon Oncle	1958	62.6	1,108
81	Seven Brides for Seven Brothers	1954	62.5	1,112
82	The Killing	1956	62.2	1,132
83	Harvey	1950	62.1	1,135
84	Stalag 17	1953	62.1	1,138
85	Elevator to the Gallows	1958	61.5	1,167
86	Dial M for Murder	1954	61.3	1,178
87	In a Lonely Place	1950	60.9	1,204
88	Around the World in 80 Days	1956	60.9	1,205
89	The Great War	1959	60.2	1,239
90	The Incredible Shrinking Man	1957	60.2	1,241
91	Suddenly, Last Summer	1959	60.1	1,250
92	The Ladykillers	1955	60.0	1,253
93	Winchester '73	1950	59.5	1,280
94	Room at the Top	1959	59.4	1,285
95	The Barefoot Contessa	1954	59.4	1,289
96	The Country Girl	1954	59.2	1,300
97	20,000 Leagues Under the Sea	1954	59.1	1,306
98	The Big Heat	1953	58.8	1,325
99	Lust for Life	1956	58.5	1,341
100	The Diary of Anne Frank	1959	58.4	1,348
101	The Band Wagon	1953	58.2	1,356
102	Sayonara	1957	58.2	1,357
103	The Nun's Story	1959	58.1	1,365
104	Funny Face	1957	58.0	1,368
105	Separate Tables	1958	58.0	1,371
106	The Naked Spur	1953	57.2	1,415
107	Big Deal on Madonna Street	1958	57.0	1,427
108	The Caine Mutiny	1954	57.0	1,429
109	Godzilla	1954	56.7	1,449
110	The Bridge	1959	56.7	1,450
111	Forbidden Planet	1956	56.6	1,456
112	The War of the Worlds	1953	56.5	1,457
113	The World of Apu	1959	56.4	1,466
114	Anastasia	1956	56.2	1,477
115	The Rose Tattoo	1955	55.9	1,499
116	Quo Vadis	1951	55.8	1,504
117	Johnny Guitar	1954	55.4	1,527
118	The Man Who Knew Too Much	1956	55.3	1,535
119	Ballad of a Soldier	1959	54.3	1,596
120	Friendly Persuasion	1956	54.1	1,608
121	Imitation of Life	1959	54.0	1,612
122	Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto	1954	53.8	1,625
123	Pillow Talk	1959	53.3	1,663
124	The Young and the Damned	1950	53.2	1,664
125	The Earrings of Madame de...	1953	52.9	1,685
126	Father of the Bride	1950	52.9	1,686
127	Little Fugitive	1953	52.7	1,697
128	Executive Suite	1954	51.7	1,762
129	Written on the Wind	1956	51.7	1,767
130	An Affair to Remember	1957	51.0	1,809
131	The Man with the Golden Arm	1955	50.7	1,834
132	Death of a Salesman	1951	49.5	1,912
133	I Want to Live!	1958	49.3	1,928
134	Ashes and Diamonds	1958	49.0	1,946
135	Gentlemen Prefer Blondes	1953	48.9	1,954
136	Gate of Hell	1953	48.6	1,976
137	High Society	1956	48.4	1,987
138	Kanal	1957	48.4	1,992
139	Guys and Dolls	1955	48.0	2,020
140	Monsieur Hulot's Holiday	1953	47.7	2,042
141	Oklahoma!	1955	47.6	2,048
142	All That Heaven Allows	1955	47.3	2,071
143	Peter Pan	1953	46.7	2,110
144	General Della Rovere	1959	46.6	2,118
145	3:10 to Yuma	1957	46.2	2,147
146	Baby Doll	1956	46.2	2,149
147	Broken Arrow	1950	45.6	2,190
148	Auntie Mame	1958	45.4	2,204
149	Pickup on South Street	1953	45.0	2,232
150	Mogambo	1953	45.0	2,233
151	The Three Faces of Eve	1957	44.8	2,246
152	Carmen Jones	1954	44.6	2,264
153	Richard III	1955	44.2	2,298
154	The Court Jester	1956	44.0	2,312
155	Ivanhoe	1952	43.8	2,328
156	5 Fingers	1952	43.6	2,339
157	Porgy and Bess	1959	43.6	2,341
158	The Harder They Fall	1956	43.6	2,343
159	A Face in the Crowd	1957	43.4	2,352
160	The Wrong Man	1956	43.2	2,366
161	Detective Story	1951	43.1	2,375
162	Blackboard Jungle	1955	42.9	2,392
163	The Thing from Another World	1951	42.9	2,394
164	Gun Crazy	1950	42.7	2,410
165	Gunfight at the O.K. Corral	1957	42.2	2,447
166	Summertime	1955	42.1	2,455
167	The Man from Laramie	1955	42.0	2,463
168	Kiss Me Deadly	1955	41.9	2,467
169	Viva Zapata!	1952	41.4	2,505
170	Alice in Wonderland	1951	41.3	2,514
171	The Seven Year Itch	1955	41.2	2,522
172	Some Came Running	1958	41.2	2,527
173	Operation Petticoat	1959	41.1	2,528
174	Somebody Up There Likes Me	1956	41.1	2,532
175	Sudden Fear	1952	40.6	2,569
176	Moulin Rouge	1952	40.6	2,570
177	Battleground	1950	40.3	2,595
178	War and Peace	1956	40.1	2,612
179	Smiles of a Summer Night	1955	39.9	2,622
180	Lili	1953	39.7	2,639
181	The Burmese Harp	1956	39.7	2,640
182	The Glenn Miller Story	1954	39.6	2,647
183	The Bridges at Toko-Ri	1954	39.6	2,652
184	Shadows	1958	39.4	2,664
185	The 7th Voyage of Sinbad	1958	39.4	2,667
186	House of Wax	1953	39.2	2,679
187	The Trouble with Harry	1955	39.2	2,685
188	The Greatest Show on Earth	1952	38.9	2,704
189	Mother India	1957	38.9	2,706
190	Titanic	1953	38.6	2,731
191	The Young Lions	1958	38.3	2,757
192	Come Back, Little Sheba	1952	38.2	2,759
193	Love in the Afternoon	1957	38.1	2,771
194	On the Beach	1959	37.9	2,786
195	The Robe	1953	37.6	2,810
196	The Silent World	1956	37.6	2,811
197	La Ronde	1950	37.5	2,816
198	The Enemy Below	1957	37.2	2,841
199	Picnic	1955	37.2	2,846
200	Cyrano de Bergerac	1950	37.0	2,863
201	The Vikings	1958	36.9	2,870
202	Old Yeller	1957	36.9	2,872
203	Dracula	1958	36.8	2,876
204	Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison	1957	36.7	2,887
205	Broken Lance	1954	36.0	2,947
206	Love Me or Leave Me	1955	35.8	2,960
207	The Well	1951	35.8	2,962
208	Rio Grande	1950	35.5	2,989
209	How to Marry a Millionaire	1953	35.4	2,995
210	Designing Woman	1957	35.3	3,001
211	Hondo	1953	35.2	3,008
212	Miracle in Milan	1951	35.2	3,011
213	The Old Man and the Sea	1958	35.2	3,013
214	The Man in the White Suit	1951	34.6	3,061
215	Stage Fright	1950	34.4	3,075
216	Bellissima	1951	34.4	3,082
217	Salt of the Earth	1954	34.0	3,114
218	The Men	1950	33.9	3,122
219	Them!	1954	33.6	3,144
220	Les Girls	1957	33.6	3,147
221	I Confess	1953	33.5	3,160
222	Decision Before Dawn	1951	33.4	3,168
223	King Solomon's Mines	1950	33.3	3,175
224	Journey to the Center of the Earth	1959	33.2	3,182
225	White Christmas	1954	33.0	3,196
226	Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing	1955	32.7	3,225
227	Magnificent Obsession	1954	32.7	3,226
228	Gervaise	1956	32.4	3,254
229	No Way Out	1950	32.3	3,260
230	The Snows of Kilimanjaro	1952	32.1	3,276
231	Bell, Book and Candle	1958	31.8	3,300
232	Monkey Business	1952	31.8	3,305
233	The Hound of the Baskervilles	1959	31.7	3,316
234	I'll Cry Tomorrow	1955	31.6	3,323
235	Peyton Place	1957	31.1	3,363
236	The Living Desert	1953	31.1	3,366
237	The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell	1955	31.1	3,370
238	D.O.A.	1950	31.0	3,373
239	Pat and Mike	1952	30.5	3,415
240	Teacher's Pet	1958	30.3	3,435
241	The Sound Barrier	1952	30.1	3,452
242	Annie Get Your Gun	1950	30.0	3,466
243	Caged	1950	29.9	3,469
244	We're No Angels	1955	29.7	3,494
245	Senso	1954	29.5	3,513
246	The Spirit of St. Louis	1957	29.3	3,529
247	The Wild One	1953	29.2	3,541
248	The Rainmaker	1956	29.1	3,542
249	On the Bowery	1956	29.1	3,543
250	Samson and Delilah	1950	29.1	3,550
251	The Tin Star	1957	29.0	3,555
252	The Big Sky	1952	28.9	3,560
253	Niagara	1953	28.9	3,563
254	Genevieve	1953	28.7	3,580
255	My Cousin Rachel	1952	28.5	3,604
256	Invaders from Mars	1953	28.4	3,607
257	Jailhouse Rock	1957	28.3	3,623
258	A King in New York	1957	28.0	3,649
259	The Bad Seed	1956	27.7	3,671
260	The Flame and the Arrow	1950	27.6	3,684
261	Tom Thumb	1958	27.4	3,698
262	Pal Joey	1957	27.4	3,703
263	The Tales of Hoffmann	1951	27.4	3,705
264	With a Song in My Heart	1952	26.7	3,764
265	The Dam Busters	1955	26.7	3,765
266	Beat the Devil	1953	26.6	3,778
267	Le Plaisir	1952	26.5	3,787
268	Killer's Kiss	1955	26.4	3,799
269	Lonelyhearts	1958	26.3	3,808
270	Creature from the Black Lagoon	1954	26.1	3,824
271	It Should Happen to You	1954	25.9	3,844
272	Jazz on a Summer's Day	1959	25.7	3,865
273	Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?	1957	25.5	3,876
274	The Idiot	1951	25.3	3,895
275	The High and the Mighty	1954	24.8	3,947
276	Interrupted Melody	1955	24.7	3,958
277	Carrie	1952	24.6	3,961
278	Bus Stop	1956	24.3	3,991
279	The Horse's Mouth	1958	24.2	4,004
280	The Brave One	1956	24.2	4,006
281	The Cruel Sea	1953	24.1	4,010
282	Kon-Tiki	1950	24.1	4,014
283	The Desert Rats	1953	24.0	4,018
284	Wild Is the Wind	1957	24.0	4,026
285	Edge of the City	1957	23.9	4,035
286	A Time to Love and a Time to Die	1958	23.6	4,064
287	David and Bathsheba	1951	23.2	4,098
288	Calamity Jane	1953	23.0	4,119
289	South Pacific	1958	22.7	4,152
290	Man of a Thousand Faces	1957	22.6	4,161
291	It's Always Fair Weather	1955	22.4	4,176
292	When Worlds Collide	1951	22.3	4,189
293	The Egyptian	1954	22.1	4,203
294	Cowboy	1958	22.0	4,221
295	Awaara	1951	21.8	4,234
296	The Hitch-Hiker	1953	21.7	4,242
297	Serengeti Shall Not Die	1959	21.5	4,268
298	...And God Created Woman	1956	21.2	4,296
299	The Young Philadelphians	1959	21.0	4,321
300	Young Bess	1953	20.7	4,342
301	River of No Return	1954	20.7	4,348
302	Houseboat	1958	20.5	4,361
303	The Tall T	1957	20.5	4,364
304	White Wilderness	1958	20.4	4,372
305	The Unconquered	1954	20.1	4,401
306	Three Coins in the Fountain	1954	20.1	4,406
307	Pinky	1950	19.7	4,442
308	There's No Business Like Show Business	1954	19.7	4,446
309	Hans Christian Andersen	1952	19.6	4,452
310	Raintree County	1957	19.2	4,493
311	Désirée	1954	19.2	4,496
312	The Member of the Wedding	1952	19.1	4,508
313	The Blue Veil	1951	19.1	4,511
314	A Hatful of Rain	1957	19.0	4,512
315	Brigadoon	1954	19.0	4,519
316	The Actress	1953	18.9	4,530
317	The Great Caruso	1951	18.5	4,572
318	Fourteen Hours	1951	18.3	4,587
319	The Gates of Paris	1957	18.1	4,605
320	The Prince and the Showgirl	1957	17.9	4,631
321	Robinson Crusoe	1954	17.8	4,637
322	The Sheepman	1958	17.8	4,644
323	Mister 880	1950	17.6	4,658
324	Kapo	1959	17.6	4,661
325	This Is Cinerama	1952	17.1	4,716
326	Albert Schweitzer	1957	16.9	4,734
327	The Captain from Kopenick	1956	16.8	4,747
328	Jolson Sings Again	1950	16.7	4,753
329	Destination Moon	1950	16.6	4,759
330	The Devil Strikes at Night	1957	16.4	4,779
331	The Moon Is Blue	1953	16.3	4,789
332	Call Me Madam	1953	16.0	4,824
333	The Solid Gold Cadillac	1956	16.0	4,825
334	The Vanishing Prairie	1954	15.7	4,855
335	Plymouth Adventure	1952	15.6	4,864
336	Daddy Long Legs	1955	15.4	4,887
337	The Black Rose	1950	15.2	4,907
338	The Furies	1950	14.9	4,941
339	The Thief	1952	14.9	4,942
340	Edward, My Son	1950	14.8	4,949
341	Desire Under the Elms	1958	14.8	4,950
342	Affair in Trinidad	1952	14.8	4,953
343	The Star	1952	14.7	4,962
344	Nine Lives	1957	14.4	4,998
345	The Magnificent Yankee	1950	14.3	5,006
346	Above and Beyond	1952	14.0	5,041
347	The Eddy Duchin Story	1956	13.9	5,044
348	Martin Luther	1953	13.4	5,101
349	Qivitoq	1956	12.8	5,167
350	The Barkleys of Broadway	1950	12.8	5,169
351	The Virgin Queen	1955	12.7	5,172
352	Career	1959	12.7	5,173
353	The Five Pennies	1959	12.6	5,187
354	The Titan: Story of Michelangelo	1950	12.6	5,188
355	Dream Wife	1953	12.4	5,207
356	Bright Victory	1951	12.1	5,235
357	The Sea Around Us	1953	12.1	5,238
358	The Mating Season	1951	11.9	5,259
359	Knights of the Round Table	1953	11.7	5,282
360	Queen Bee	1955	11.7	5,288
361	Boy on a Dolphin	1957	11.6	5,300
362	Pete Kelly's Blues	1955	11.5	5,301
363	Show Boat	1951	11.5	5,310
364	The Mudlark	1950	11.4	5,315
365	The Brothers Karamazov	1958	11.3	5,322
366	Torch Song	1953	11.3	5,328
367	The Frogmen	1951	11.3	5,331
368	Take the High Ground!	1953	11.2	5,343
369	The Proud and Profane	1956	11.1	5,346
370	The Bachelor Party	1957	11.1	5,351
371	The Buccaneer	1958	11.0	5,357
372	Arms and the Man	1958	11.0	5,360
373	The Story of Three Loves	1953	10.6	5,402
374	The Phenix City Story	1955	10.6	5,408
375	The Rains of Ranchipur	1955	10.5	5,418
376	Torpedo Run	1958	10.3	5,437
377	Damn Yankees	1958	10.3	5,438
378	My Foolish Heart	1950	10.3	5,442
379	On the Riviera	1951	10.2	5,445
380	Million Dollar Mermaid	1952	10.0	5,472
381	The Bold and the Brave	1956	9.8	5,493
382	The President's Lady	1953	9.8	5,494
383	Trial	1955	9.6	5,514
384	Hell and High Water	1954	9.4	5,533
385	Not as a Stranger	1955	9.4	5,542
386	The Last Angry Man	1959	9.3	5,545
387	Revenge	1958	9.2	5,555
388	Boy of Two Worlds	1959	8.9	5,596
389	The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.	1953	8.8	5,603
390	Outrage	1950	8.8	5,604
391	Indiscretion of an American Wife	1953	8.7	5,612
392	A Farewell to Arms	1957	8.7	5,618
393	The Red Danube	1950	8.6	5,625
394	Plan 9 from Outer Space	1957	8.6	5,626
395	The Card	1952	8.5	5,642
396	That Forsyte Woman	1950	8.3	5,664
397	The Goddess	1958	8.2	5,671
398	The House on Telegraph Hill	1951	8.2	5,676
399	All My Babies... A Midwife's Own Story	1953	8.1	5,682
400	Libel	1959	8.1	5,684
401	The Big Fisherman	1959	7.9	5,700
402	A Certain Smile	1958	7.9	5,705
403	Village by the River	1958	7.8	5,712
404	Fear and Desire	1953	7.7	5,729
405	The Best of Everything	1959	7.5	5,752
406	Battle Cry	1955	7.4	5,761
407	Knock on Wood	1954	7.4	5,765
408	Between Heaven and Hell	1956	7.3	5,767
409	The Year Long Road	1958	7.3	5,768
410	Three Little Words	1950	7.3	5,774
411	The Atomic City	1952	7.2	5,779
412	Kiss Me Kate	1953	7.0	5,808
413	The Gazebo	1959	6.8	5,826
414	Go for Broke!	1951	6.7	5,836
415	Come Fill the Cup	1951	6.7	5,844
416	The Seven Little Foys	1955	6.3	5,884
417	A Queen Is Crowned	1953	6.2	5,898
418	The Four Poster	1952	6.2	5,899
419	The Conquest of Everest	1953	6.0	5,919
420	I Was a Communist for the FBI	1951	5.7	5,953
421	Perri	1957	5.7	5,956
422	Two Tickets to Broadway	1951	5.7	5,958
423	The Mississippi Gambler	1953	5.5	5,983
424	The Model and the Marriage Broker	1951	5.4	5,994
425	All the Brothers Were Valiant	1953	5.3	5,996
426	The Silver Chalice	1954	5.3	6,006
427	A Man Called Peter	1955	5.2	6,009
428	Say One for Me	1959	5.1	6,023
429	Susan Slept Here	1954	5.1	6,024
430	Rogue Cop	1954	5.1	6,026
431	Khovanshchina	1959	5.1	6,028
432	The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima	1952	5.0	6,030
433	Tulsa	1950	5.0	6,038
434	Julie	1956	4.9	6,042
435	Teenage Rebel	1956	4.9	6,052
436	Kind Lady	1951	4.8	6,059
437	Too Young to Kiss	1951	4.8	6,061
438	The Jazz Singer	1952	4.6	6,076
439	The Merry Widow	1952	4.5	6,089
440	No Sad Songs for Me	1950	4.5	6,096
441	Torero!	1956	4.4	6,100
442	The West Point Story	1950	4.4	6,103
443	Li'l Abner	1959	4.2	6,129
444	Trio	1950	4.0	6,146
445	Beneath the 12-Mile Reef	1953	3.9	6,167
446	The Pickwick Papers	1952	3.6	6,203
447	The Best Things in Life Are Free	1956	3.5	6,207
448	Louisa	1950	3.5	6,213
449	Mardi Gras	1958	3.4	6,219
450	The Hunters	1957	3.4	6,224
451	The Naked Eye	1956	3.3	6,237
452	Sand	1950	3.2	6,245
453	The Power and the Prize	1956	3.1	6,258
454	Navajo	1952	2.9	6,277
455	I Want You	1951	2.9	6,282
456	Meet Me in Las Vegas	1956	2.8	6,295
457	Flat Top	1952	2.7	6,307
458	Red Garters	1954	2.5	6,332
459	Crazylegs	1953	1.9	6,395
460	The Stratford Adventure	1954	1.8	6,408
461	Stagecoach To Fury	1956	1.8	6,410
462	The Race for Space	1959	1.7	6,417
463	Man in Space	1955	1.7	6,421
464	The Medium	1951	1.6	6,438
465	Our Very Own	1950	1.3	6,464
466	I'll Get By	1950	1.3	6,465
467	Antarctic Crossing	1958	0.9	6,519
468	With These Hands	1950	0.8	6,529
469	The Bolshoi Ballet	1957	0.8	6,532
470	Heartbreak Ridge	1954	0.8	6,534
471	Look for the Silver Lining	1950	0.7	6,535
472	Ace in the Hole (aka Big Carnival)	1951	0.7	6,544